According to Jeremy Hale, environmental health specialist for the Pope County Health Department, the two public swimming beaches regularly tested by his department - Long Pool and Lake Dardanelle -are clear for swimming and have experienced no closures this summer. Hale said testing will be conducted this week as well.

A spokesman for the Corps of Engineers, which conducts testing on Lake Dardanelle in Yell County and Lake Nimrod, said both swim areas are currently open.

One area lake -Spring Lake - has seen closures, but is currently open for swimming. Tracy Farley, a spokeswoman for the Forest Service, said Spring Lake was closed from June 3-7 and June 14-28 due to a high bacteria count, but is open now and is tested weekly.